life

Last week I had the privilege of attending the funeral of one of my dads oldest and dearest friends. I say privilege because it was a reminder and a blessing in so many was. I am SO sad and sorry for his family, they said goodbye to a truly wonderful man. Death is always hard. No matter the circumstances.

As I hugged his wife of almost 42 years I started to cry. I squeezed her and said a very inadequate "I am so sorry." She replied with a thank you and then she said, "you know, you have been here, only it was worse." As I stood there holding her hand, gazing upon her husband, I shook my head and replied "I do not know about worse...just different."

Because, really, I cannot imagine the pain of losing a husband of 42 years.

The message the pastor gave was excellent. He said everything I would have. The first point he made was one that has stood out to me the most since Caden's death. When we do not fully comprehend God's plan, when we are confused or do not understand the why of something, we can trust God, His word and His character. We know that God is good... even when bad, hard and hurtful things happen... God never changes. It is just always so much easier to believe God is good when life is easy and breezy. When really, it is much more helpful to cling to Gods goodness when life is tough...because if He isn't...then what?

The pastor finished the service by giving the gospel. I cannot think of a better time to tell people of the saving work of Christ. When do people contemplate life and death more then at a funeral. As I sat and listened to the man offering life giving words to the crowd gathered there, I wondered how many people were hearing the truth for the first time. Not just listening... but really hearing the message.

How many people sitting there were struck with the inescapable truth of the consequence of their sin. (Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God) If God is Holy, how can we, as sinners live with Him in eternity if He cannot be near sin?

The answer... Christ.

God's own son.

Jesus, came and lived a sinless life. He died in our place, paying our debt. (John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.)

He rose, conquering death ( 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day) so that we would have the hope of a forever with God. And all of this...the love, the righteousness, the forever in Heaven is ours if we only believe...Accept that we are sinners, know we cannot do it on our own... rest in the truth that Jesus did what we could not. (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.) Death is separation from God.. In one word, Hell. Life, is living forever in the presence of God… Heaven.

I read somewhere that for those who believe in Christ’s work on the cross, this life is as close to Hell as they will ever get. And for those who do not believe, this life is as close to Heaven as they will ever get…

As I sat listening to the words of God being said to the crowd…I prayed that some would hear… really hear the words, and on that day…the day we said goodbye to a dear friend and loved one, would be the very first day of someone else’s life.

Their eternal life.

Really?

Whilst outside the other day (letting the dog out) I turned around to see Rigg at the door.

Licking the door.

Licking...not just smushing his face against the glass with his tongue out...

but actually licking the glass.

After a brief pause where I threw-up in my mouth a little (because...sigh... I cannot remember the last time the glass was cleaned)

 I laughed so hard I doubled over, because...

Really?

it's raining today

It's raining today.

I am sitting at my computer looking out my window...enjoying the grey.

Little bit is asleep in the swing and Rigg is watching Curious George and munching on peanuts... his new favorite eatable.

I am on my second cup of coffee... something I never have, but today I am indulging.

I know many people don't like rain... or they think of it as sad... not me. I love rain. I love the smell of rain, the sound of it as it hits the windowpanes and shingles of the house. I enjoy the sound of tires driving through the rain on the street outside. The beauty of the drops of water on the glass is like a great song... mesmerizing.

As I sit here staring out the window at the drizzle outside, I am reminded that spring is just around the corner, and as much as I love the rain... it is a promise of sorts of something more. All this rain, this grey and cloud cover is just the necessary beginning for the beauty that is to come. Because of this wet and mess the empty trees will sprout green buds and the dry brown withered grass will explode with color. The dead will fade like foggy breath on glass and the new will blossom forth with unwavering boldness.

At this time of year, rain carries the hope of new life... in the summer, rain is what sustains the green and refreshes the life that has already come to be.

Much like scripture; the bible is the Word of God...the water of life. When you hear and accept the Truth, you have new life.(2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!) As you continue to stay in Gods word, the Truth sustains and refreshes you. Just like welcome rain on dry and thirsty ground, God's Word, the Bible, is a welcome salve on a dry and thirsty soul... It will revive, restore, comfort, encourage, sustain and embolden.

It's raining today and I am hopeful... for newness, for  refreshment...for what is to come.

Friday randomness

Another week has flown by... I cannot believe Ryder is 5 weeks old today! Evaluating my time management skills over the past month has me considering preperations for high school graduation parties... if I start now, I might be ready in time...

He is getting like 16 hours of sleep a day... why is HE tired?

Have you seen this kids lashes? So unfair... almost criminal.

Videos are always more enjoyable when viewed with your best friend...

I have no idea why Rigg is sporting the one sock look... or where the other sock is, and to be entirely honest... I do not really care, if he isn't bothered then neither am I.

I have been thinking and mulling ideas over in my mind for a "real" post. The problem is it takes more brain power and time then I have at the moment... hang in there with me, I might get one up soon!

Happy weekend!

if I had a store

I would sell all of my favorite things, and some things I cannot seem to find anywhere else.
I would have a cafe in the corner that sold coffee's, tea's and yummy pastries.

There would be warm sweaters, soft blankets, and fluffy, white bedding.

An aisle would have pictures of friends and family. Nostalgic memories would come in cute colored packages.

If I owned a store, I would sell "skinny"... and "pounds off", and "fit's again". All of this would be in the same aisle as dark chocolate and tiramisu.. so you wouldn't forget to pick up the "skinny" after you gorge yourself on the chocolate.

Finished projects would be half off, and to-do lists would not be in our inventory.

If I owned a store, an entire section would sell items like: sanity, good conversations and belly laughs.

End caps would display naps in all times and lengths.

The back wall would be covered in manuals and instruction booklets on all things. Babies. Boys. Getting your husband to read your mind...

Extra brain power and  brain space would be next to clever comments and witty banter.

A "Time for You" section would include items such as: showers, pedicures, favorite TV shows and maid service...

In my store, there would be books... rows and rows of books... that you can read in no time flat. Music would play and people would break out into song and dance like in old musicals...

Bottles of "not fussy" and "no whining" would be in the same section as "obey your mother" and "sunny disposition".

"Scrub my dishes" and "do the laundry"  would be buttons like the Staples "easy" button.

Oh, and I  would call it a shoppe... just to irritate Cristi :)


If I had a store it would contain all this and more... the only problem is, I need most of the stuff listed above in order to have the time to start... ahh, irony.

Stats, cans, crying...ta-da!

Ryder and I took a trip to the doctor yesterday for his one month well baby check (Ryder's not the doctor's...the doctor is older than one month...)

He weighed in at a whopping 11 lbs. and 11 oz. that is in the 90% .

He was 23 inches long/tall putting him in the 95% for height.

All looks well with our newest tiny giant. The big numbers Ryder put up made his daddy's chest swell with pride and his mother shake her head in amazement ( a future of being dwarfed by huge men flits through my mind... maybe looking small = looking thin?)

This morning Rigg has wanted to play in the kitchen. As long as we stay out of the dog's water bowl, we are good to go. He is really into stacking cans...

When his tower doesn't quite meet building codes, or safety regulations... he gets very frustrated.

Like a good mom, I went over and helped him out. We built a nice, strong sturdy tower of canned food goods. He was very happy for all of 3 seconds. Then with a war-worthy battle cry he knocked them all down and kicked them around the kitchen. Sigh.. so much for understanding a boy.

He is getting better at stacking them himself. When he does accomplish his goal, he yells "Ta-da" with his hands in the air. At this, his look silently demands applause.

I oblige.

He might not be a builder... but I have high hopes he will be doing dishes in the near future...

ketchup (catch-up)

Last week we had a "ice storm" here in the Midwest. We received 2-3 inches of ice and a couple of days later got just as much snow. All of this to say, me and my 2 tiny blessings have been marooned in our small bungalow for days on end.
Rigg is starting to show signs of cabin fever... all trapped and no leaving makes Rigg a rambunctious, rebellious boy! Today as I was planted firmly on my couch feeding the wee one, I heard unwelcome noises from the kitchen.  They sounded something like this: Splash, giggle-giggle, gibberish-that-is not yet-English, splash-stop-splash, giggle, gibberish, giggle, splash...
Rigg had upturned Bo's (the dog) water bowl and was merrily puddle jumping through the kitchen.

Does dog water stomped around by toddler feet equal mopping?

Sunday night I was visited by some sort of virus or food poisoning and was incredibly ill for the whole night. I am still trying to recover. My mom has the boys for a couple of hours tonight which is the only reason I was able to shower since Saturday (too much info?) and am able to write this post.

Ryder is doing well. He is still all over the place as far as sleeping during the night. He does really well for a few days and then regresses. He seems to give me anywhere from 4 to5 hours the first stretch and then only 3- 3and a half for the second. He is one squirmy kid.He loves to move around and he is really holding his head up like a champ. He is getting HUGE! Ryder has his one month check on Thursday so I will update with stats soon. He does, however, want to be held a lot.  Which might excite his Grandma's, but I find that I want to cuddle the baby on my time.. not his, which usually corresponds to times where I really should be doing something else. Like making sure Rigg stops unplugging the TV or doesn't topple over a glass of water I left on the table...or throwing toys in the toilet (Rigg, not me)
As my good friend Michele said, a day in the life of a mommy is all about putting out "fires" and squashing rebellion.

Rigg has a new favorite spot. He can now turn on the baby rumble seat and lounge while watching a video. Today he demonstrated for his Aunt Elizabeth and added talking on his "cell phone". When he does this my mind flash forwards to his teenage years. I can just see him lounging and calling friends or playing video games. And then I get sad because I know when he is a teenager he wont let me love on him. At times like this I immediately make him stop what he is doing and "give mommy kisses"... while I still can!

OK, I am going to go and make the most of my last baby free hour!

brothers

I really want to write a post... but I have no time. (right now)

So I will leave you with pics I took this morning of my 2 favorite little guys.